2023 Recruitment & Retention Thread

AOB re-signing Crossland is dumbfounding.

AOB believes in applying an effort first philosophy--despite sacrificing that philosophy when it suits him. Problem is, that philosophy only works if the players you have available meet a minimum standard for talent for FG. Otherwise, you end up fielding players like Crossland, Tuala and Mann who will strangle any chance of winning games by making errors or bombing opportunities each and every game.

Sadly, AOB can't see that Crossland isn't capable of playing in the halves at this level. Or perhaps he can see it, hence why Crossland is scarcely named in the halves. Why then re-sign him? Role specialisation exists for fundamental reasons. Unless you're dealing with Craig Wing, or if the squad has a unique need for a bench utility, there's no good reason why the 17 man team sheet should be carrying 2-3 utility players each week.

AOB is a desperate coach who now relies on personal relationships with his players for his own job security, something he seems obliged to reciprocate I.e. Crossland. We cannot run a club like this and expect for things to improve.

While AOB is head coach things will only get worse. Mark my words.
 
I reckon we’re re-signing Crossland because Clifford has asked for a release. In fact I’m very confident of this.

Maybe Clifford goes on to be a better half than anyone at Wests or Newcastle at his next club, but he’s certainly a significantly and obviously worse player than all three of Brooks, Doueihi and Hastings right now, and it’s not like any of those three have been in an ideal situation either. That playing group has been as out on Madge as the Knights one is on AOB, and haven’t responded to Kimmorley.
 
Taupau isn’t who I’d pick unless it was a fair bit less than $400K, but in general yeah, cutting an overpaid forward and overpaying a legitimate first grade-standard halfback is better than the reverse.
 
2023 Player Movement: (so far)...

Gains:
- Adam Elliott (Raiders)
- Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs)
- Bevan French (Wigan)
- Tyson Gamble (Broncos)

Loses:
- Mitchell Barnett (Warriors)
- Sauaso Sue (Hull FC)
- Tex Hoy (Hull FC)
- Anthony Milford (Dolphins)
- Edrick Lee (Dolphins)
- Pasami Saulo (Raiders)
- Jirah Momoisea (Eels)
- Brayden Musgrove (Unsigned)
 
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Billy said:
Did himself no favours.
I suppose his coach will know he couldn't hold on in tackles because he couldn't use one arm with any force, but fans will be talking about his weak defence for years.
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The coach knows and was proud that he was willing to play because they did not think they had anyone else to play there.
 
Crossland has been signed because what we have, Clune, Clifford and now Gamble are no guarantee of success, Crossland might not be either but answer this honestly:- If picking your 6 & 7 out of those four who would it be, not a great option but it is what we have, no Brooks, no Douhi, no Hastings, no young up and comer, so as backup or frontline you have, my opinion, 6 Gamble & 7 Crossland, Clune in reserves and jury is still out on Clifford.
Instead of knocking the players who try hard but might not be quite what we want direct your complaints at the recruitment group within the club.
Why do we have a very good success in juniors, e.g. Flegg but very poor in Cup and 1sts
 
I agree Battler and I think the outrage is just a context thing. I think as it stands Clune & Gamble will be the first choice halves, the club will look for a new first choice 7 over the off-season, and you need reserve halves on your roster too.

As I said earlier I take it as a signal that a player contracted for next year is going to be released. Clifford seems likely (here are my guesses: back up 6/7 behind Schuster/DCE at Manly; back up half at Wests; total release from his NRL contract to play QCup). Mann’s bizarre mystery injury is a factor here too and I’d certainly prefer to see Phoenix at 14 each week. With Mann on the bench you feel like you have him play for more than 15-20 mins in relief of Elliott to justify his stupid salary. Not a worry with Phoenix.
 
What’s Crossland’s excuse for every other game he has played unless it’s been a long recovery for a torn pec spanning several years?
 
Battler said:
I'll get pillored for this but I'm ok with resigning Phoenix, I assume on minimum or near minimum wage. We have to fill 30 spots and spend 95% of the cap, he can fill a gap if needed. Give him Mann's spot on the roster I say. At least he has a dig. Frees up more cap space to overpay on the halves we so desperately need.
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Mann still has Mann’s spot on the roster though, that’s the issue. We’re bringing back another plodder utility when we’ve already got a few. And he’s a utility in name only, really he’s just average at best everywhere you put him. Under 12’s halves would’ve finished off a couple of those tries he bombed today, and halfback is supposed to be his best spot.

On top of all that it’s just a boring, negative signing. Like we’ve just sat through a season of **** and straight after the game the coach gets on the mic to tell everyone he’s happy with the way things are and to expect more of the same next year.
 
Billy said:
Did himself no favours.
I suppose his coach will know he couldn't hold on in tackles because he couldn't use one arm with any force, but fans will be talking about his weak defence for years.
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It's bad because early on he actually made 2-3 very good try-savers but obviously over the course of the game it got worse, none of the other halves on our books would've made any of the tackles he saved/missed.
 
mullenmagic said:
Mann still has Mann’s spot on the roster though, that’s the issue. We’re bringing back another plodder utility when we’ve already got a few. And he’s a utility in name only, really he’s just average at best everywhere you put him. Under 12’s halves would’ve finished off a couple of those tries he bombed today, and halfback is supposed to be his best spot.

On top of all that it’s just a boring, negative signing. Like we’ve just sat through a season of **** and straight after the game the coach gets on the mic to tell everyone he’s happy with the way things are and to expect more of the same next year.
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Literally spot on.

Mann is a more effective half than Crossland. And Mann isn't even a half.
 
MullosLefttoRight said:
It's bad because early on he actually made 2-3 very good try-savers but obviously over the course of the game it got worse, none of the other halves on our books would've made any of the tackles he saved/missed.
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Yeah i had a quick look at his stats he has 91.5% tackle efficiency over his career he is pretty good defensively.
 
Battler said:
I'll get pillored for this but I'm ok with resigning Phoenix, I assume on minimum or near minimum wage. We have to fill 30 spots and spend 95% of the cap, he can fill a gap if needed. Give him Mann's spot on the roster I say. At least he has a dig. Frees up more cap space to overpay on the halves we so desperately need.
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problem with that theory is he takes up a top 30 spot.

I don't know why we have signed him now, yes we need halves, so try whatever we can to get one from somewhere. If that all fails, then look to sign Crosslands, he will still be sitting there unsigned. there is no need or urgency to sign him now
 
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